the obama people are talking about what a good debater governor romney is, but the romney people are talking about a good debater governor romney is. that is because they need to reassure their supporters that this race isn't over. it's still close. he can turn it around and the debates will be an opportunity to do this. >> woodruff: this is a different period of expectation setting, stu, than what we normally see. >> a little bit. i think susan is exactly right. i saw robert gibbs on television a couple days ago. he was talking about mitt romney has debated so much times and the president hasn't debated in four years. i think they are trying to lower expectations but you don't hear that same thing from the romney camp. some of this is a need, a desire, to create some momentum on the part of the challenger when there is, you know, so much finger pointing mostly by conservatives and republicans complaining about the romney campaign. >> woodruff: and there's been a fair amount of that. stu, what about in terms of setting the table for substance in are there things the candidates are ta